PL/SQL blocks can also be run from embedded C/SQL programs by enclosing the block within EXEC SQL EXECUTE/END-EXEC statements. In general, performance can be increased through the use of embedded PL/SQL because it helps reduce communication between the app and the database by being able to send entire SQL blocks to the server rather than one at a time as with embedded C/SQL alone. Here's a short example:-

#include <stdio.h>exec sql include sqlca;

/***************************************NB varchar is a pseudotype and varchar empname[20] for instance isequivalent to the C declaration